Charles LaCourt – Hero

I am back! Although I did not rest enough (grandchildren are fun, but can be exhausting}, time away from my daily routine afforded me an opportunity to ponder issues and topics I consider crucial, particularly those related to social justice and world peace.

It was especially nice to have time to do some soul searching to determine if I am doing what I believe is important and whether that includes writing a blog. The answer to the latter is a resounding, “yes.”

Due to my very busy schedule, I find that writing a blog exacts too much of my time. In addition, there is the weight of reading responses from insecure and angry people who appear unable or unwilling to respond to others’ ideas in a civil fashion. Yet, on the other hand, I realize how important it is to know how other people feel and think. I am strong, resilient, and secure enough to withstand the hatred directed at me. Most importantly, there are many good, thinking people in our community who want to exchange ideas and thoughts in a respectful and courteous manner. This is what I enjoy and I thank those who encouraged me to continue.

During the coming weeks, I will write on a variety of local issues that I find intriguing. But, first I must pay tribute to an incredible man who made Albany his home for more than 13 years. While many in the inner city of Albany knew him well, those on the outskirts probably did not. His name is Charles LaCourt.

Soon after his arrival in Albany, Charles visited the Center for Law & Justice seeking help because he had recently been released from prison. This young, handsome Puerto Rican who was raised in Spanish Harlem, proclaimed to me then, “I want to change my life.” And change it, he did.

During the past 13 years he often worked several jobs at a time, yet found time to volunteer and help young people stay away from drugs and violence. So many in our community came to rely upon him for help and assistance. Here, I mention only a few of his contributions and community involvements. He counseled youths at the Albany County Jail with the Employability Skills Plus Program, counseled clients and managed programs at the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York, and did community outreach work for the Center for Law & Justice. He was a founder of R.O.O.T.S, a reentry support group; a board member of the Albany Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union; and a volunteer at Albany High School and for scores of community projects too numerous to mention.

But, it was his most recent job that measured and defined the change he sought and the accomplishments he achieved. When he worked with reentrants or visited those imprisoned, he proudly showed off his official law enforcement badge issued to him as the Coordinator of the Community Prosecution program for the Albany County District Attorney’s office. He knew that to the imprisoned, it also supplied a sense of hope.

The hundreds of Albanians who knew and loved him are grieving his recent death from an illness. We are all deeply pained by the loss of this wonderfully incredible human being who contributed so much to our community. As one mourner said, let us honor him by assuming all of the fine attributes and personal characteristics he embodied – hard work, honesty, compassion, respect for others, humor, and a deep commitment to family, community, and social justice.

In changing his life, Charles LaCourt contributed immeasurably to his Albany community. We are thankful for him.